By CONGRESSDAILY
The inaugural luncheon at the Capitol only dates back to President Dwight Eisenhower's first term in 1953, but this one, like so much else related to Barack Obama's moment, will have strong ties to President Abraham Lincoln.
All three courses are based on Lincoln's favorite foods -- a seafood stew including lobster, scallops and shrimp; a brace of American birds (pheasant and duck) with a sour cherry chutney; and apple cinnamon sponge cake. The wines are all from California -- a Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, an Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, and a "special inaugural cuvee" California Champagne.
The luncheon is in the statuary and follows the swearing-in. Here's the timeline for don't-miss moments this morning. While the ceremony officially starts at 11:30 a.m., pay attention at 11:20 a.m. when President Bush and Vice President Cheney are announced and take their seats on the platform. Whether you're on the platform, on the Mall or watching on television, you'll be able to tell pretty quickly whether the boos will drown out the cheers. But five minutes later, when Obama is introduced, we're betting the noise will be louder than anything ever heard at a Redskins game. Other key moments: Aretha Franklin sings "My Country Tis of Thee" at 11:38 a.m., Vice President-elect Biden is sworn in at 11:46 a.m. and Obama takes the oath of office from Chief Justice Roberts 10 minutes later.
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